Arenavirus caused the deaths of an internist and a resident in Caranavi; meanwhile, two other doctors are in intensive care in La Paz with an illness caused by the same virus, Health Minister Gabriela Montaño said yesterday.

It's known as an arenavirus, a family of viruses that are generally associated with human infections transmitted from rodents. The chief symptoms are fever, muscle pain, abdominal pain, and headache. The rodent carrying the virus is the large vesper mouse, Calomys Callosus, and humans are infected through its body fluids.

According to medical specialist Wilfredo Camargo, the Bolivian pharmacopeia doesn't include ribavirin, which can be effective if administered soon after infection; for this reason, it's suggested to use plasma from persons who have recovered from the hemorrhagic fever, as well as enemas and tea made from mallow.

Arenavirus caused the deaths of an internist and a resident in Caranavi; meanwhile, two other doctors are in intensive care in La Paz with an illness caused by the same virus, Health Minister Gabriela Montaño said yesterday.

It's known as an arenavirus, a family of viruses that are generally associated with human infections transmitted from rodents. The chief symptoms are fever, muscle pain, abdominal pain, and headache. The rodent carrying the virus is the large vesper mouse, Calomys Callosus, and humans are infected through its body fluids.

According to medical specialist Wilfredo Camargo, the Bolivian pharmacopeia doesn't include ribavirin, which can be effective if administered soon after infection; for this reason, it's suggested to use plasma from persons who have recovered from the hemorrhagic fever, as well as enemas and tea made from mallow.